A Sorry Saga

BY: MAHAVIDYA DAS (ACBSP)

Aug 23, UK (SUN) —

It started out as another rumour,
One of the families employed by the temple took home about £5000 salary in one month.
Why tell me?
Well prabhu, you are an older devotee, is it true or what?
OK, now what to do?
After all, so many rumours pass along the corridor. Let me ask an ISKCON director to look into it.
The reply came back........
Yes it's true, the recipient, (a member of the temple council, a member of the finance committee, a dept head) admits it.
The director even gave a breakdown of the figure.
No problem. So let me write to the Bhaktivedanta Manor management to confirm that.
The question was very explicit,
It was addressed to the temple council,
"In one month in 2004, did any of your families take home a combined payment of £5000?"
The answer came back,
"We have done nothing illegal".
Thank you, says I, but you didn't answer the question,
My next letter asked the same question but received no reply.
Letter no. 3 was sent registered mail,
the reply....
It is simply a nasty rumour .... maybe half that amount.
At this point the alarm bells went off.
The matter went before the UK National Council.
They produce a cheque for approx £3500.
So now we have 3 figures.
Approx £5000 that is admitted to.
The figure of half that amount, £2500 provided by Gauri das (the Temple President) and his financial consultant,
A figure of approx £3500 provided by the UK National Council.
What to do?
I know, I'll ask the UK National Council, made up of all the Temple Presidents and the GBC, Praghosa das, for an explanation.
So, on Jan 6 2006 (it took that long to get a hearing) I met with our leadership.
Please, someone explain these apparent discrepancies.
You have a problem with Hindus came one reply...
It's been dealt with, said the GBC.......
OK, so what's the explanation?
No reply. No one in the room could or would explain.
Finally the Manor Temple President, Gauri das, suggests it should be dealt with by "a fight in the car park"
No one in the room objects,
Not even the GBC, Praghosa das, the one who runs Dandavats.com.
I go to the EURO GBC…. try ISKCON resolve, they suggest.
The issue is referred by me to ISKCON resolve.
After 2 months of going round in circles, and this is my fault, I learn ISKCON resolve has no official power whatsoever, and that it also is unable to explain.
ISKCON resolve tells me "the EURO GBC do not have the resources to look into the case."
I ask the EURO GBC Secretary twice for official confirmation,
The reply was..........well, no reply
So there you have it, and yes, I can document everything with written evidence and credible witness.
Lying, cheating, duplicitous behaviour, and these prabhus are the local sadhus,
As the saying goes, "if such are the priests, God help the congregation."



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